Westwood 2024

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Solway Country Estate: homes to round out a life well-lived

Westwood Property Group, owned by Steve and Kate Pilbrow, purchased land behind Copthorne Solway Park from Trust House at the end of 2019, and subdivided it into 70 lots of house and land packages. This became the Solway Country Estate - designed for discerning buyers over the age of 50.

“Just after Covid, the market went crazy, and Westwood needed to stop selling for a while,” Steve says. “But now, we’re ready to nish Solway Country Estate.”

Of the total of 70 lots, about 18 house and land packages remain available for sale, with four already built and waiting for new owners. However, “if customers prefer a di erent location within the village or

a di erent layout than the nished homes, they can buy o the plans,” Steve says.

Solway Country Estate is highly attractive in that every property comes with a freehold title. This means the family will bene t from the full sale proceeds, including any capital gains, less a one-o exit fee of only $3,500.

After they bought the estate, Steve and Kate took a trip to Bay of Plenty to look at the lifestyle and retirement villages on o er, hoping to gain some good ideas. They decided they didn’t like the more usual ‘licence to occupy’ arrangements found in many villages. Licence to occupy means that homeowners and their descendants lose about 30 percent of the equity on resale and miss out on some capital gains too, because they’re required to sell to the village operator at a predetermined price.

Weaving together ideas picked up from the Bay of Plenty trip, Kate and Steve developed

a great oor plan for the houses so they would look and feel high-end while being a ordable, to meet the midrange market. They worked closely with their architect Daniel Casas, originally from Argentina, to come up with a concept that achieved their vision.

“We are so sorry that Daniel has since passed away,” Kate says.

“He was a talented architect and a great friend,” adds Steve.

The cost for a two-bedroom Solway Country Estate house with a large lounge, or a three-bedroom with smaller lounge, ranges from $725,000 (if a single garage is preferred) through to $875,000 (with a double garage), depending on the location within the village. A cohesive look has been developed for the outside of the homes, but choices are possible on the inside. To ensure prices are kept a ordable, Solway Country Estate has negotiated contracts with speci ed suppliers for

nishing the homes on the inside. Colours for the walls can be picked from the Resene range.

With the carpets, homeowners can choose either 100 percent wool or a solution-dyed nylon option, and then decide on their preferred colour. Materials for benchtops, kitchen cupboards, and splashbacks are set, but the homeowners can pick their own colour scheme. Similarly, hardware and

accessories in the bathrooms are predetermined, but the homeowner can choose either a fully tiled wet oor nish with a glass shower, or a vinyl oor with an acrylic shower tray. Curtains and drapes are an optional upgrade through a Westwood supplier, or homeowners can pick their own provider.

Steve says it was important to design wide roads in the development and for the houses

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to be surrounded by park-like grounds that the owners don’t have to worry about. The estate is also bordered by a reserve on one side and has private access to the Country Club Solway Park at Copthorne Solway Park, on another.

“Membership in the Country Club Solway Park is part of the Solway Country Estate package,” says Kate. “That includes a pool, gym, tennis and squash courts, and access to the bar, grill and

restaurant, all just walking distance from your front door.” There is also a secure, ready-made, area in which to park a caravan or motorhome for a small annual fee. The area is now covered by security cameras, as are the roads throughout the estate.

ANOTHER PROJECT BY

Stories from Solway Country Estate homeowners

GREEN THUMBS

Next to the stream and a common green area, with the reserve visible just ‘over the way,’ Grace says her home is situated in the perfect spot and positioned perfectly for allday sun.

“In my 70s, it was time to downsize,” she says. “I wanted a freehold title and an investment that would hold its value. Coming from a lifestyle block, I also wanted to create a great garden.”

Grace bought her home in Solway Country Estate nearly two years ago, going on to develop a magni cent garden from scratch including eight espaliered fruit trees, two gs, ve camelias, nine roses, raised vege gardens, swan plants, and much more.

“I dump horse poo onto the garden regularly and let the worms do their thing.”

Solway Country Estate has planted axes, which the tuis

love. As part of the annual fees, the lawns are mowed and the exterior of the house cleaned.

Grace has extended her deck right to the fence, giving her a massive outdoor space, and has erected a glasshouse.

Inside her three-bedroom house with plush carpet, extra wide hallways and doorways in case of future mobility issues, double glazed windows, and a heat pump, Grace is very comfortable and toastie warm. Her annual fees also give her access to the Country Club Solway Park, where she enjoys the pool and gym several times a week.

“We have street parties and, without us being in each other’s pockets, we are all very friendly neighbours.”

VISION AND PLANNING

Vicky and Jim spent their working lives owning Masterton businesses, and always said they’d prepare for the last chapter of their lives before Jim turned 70. That’s just happened.

interior of the house and planned the landscaping. They chose the two-bedroom oor plan so they could have a larger lounge. They’re pleased as punch with their choices, as well as with the high stud and soundproof materials used in the build.

“Buying into Solway Country Estate has given us peace of mind. If anything happens to one of us, the other is sorted,” Jim says. “And, because we own our house freehold, it’s an asset for our two boys and their families. We looked around –this is the best option.”

this is the best option.”

They moved in about 15 months ago – “all part of the ten-year plan,” Vicky says.

The couple love being part of the village lifestyle, getting to know their neighbours, and taking their four grandchildren to the pool in the Country Club Solway Park. They regularly go for bush walks along the tracks through the reserve together. Doug, their salt-and-pepper cat, loves the house and surrounds too.

Jim and Vicky agree it was exciting to see their vision come to reality as they beautifully decorated the

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neighbours. They could lock up

The couple love that their property is low maintenance, close to all the amenities, and situated in an “amazing complex” with great neighbours. They could lock up and go travelling at any time if they chose.

“We’re secure, sunny and warm,” Vicky sums up. “No regrets,” adds Jim.

DOWNSIZING WITH INTENT

Sue originated from Wairarapa, and she’s brought husband Rusty back home.

“Downsizing is hard,” Rusty says, “but we’re pleased we’ve done it now at our age. A few more years and it would have gotten beyond us.”

They moved into Solway Country Estate in December last year, so feel like they’ve only just unpacked. Even so, they can easily list the bene ts of buying

in Solway Country Estate.

Avoiding a licence to occupy arrangement is top of the list. Then there’s having a ‘lock and leave’ property and being surrounded by like-minded people at a similar stage. The grandchildren enjoy the creek and the forest, and Rosie the dog loves her new life. Originally, Sue and Rusty were planning to buy o the plans into Stage 4 of the Solway Country Estate. In the end, they chose to move into Stage 3 where a completed home was available.

“We are so grateful to the developer for making that happen for us. We love everything about this house.

It occupies a corner position next to the creek and has views over the ranges, the reserve, and one of the common green areas. We have big decks, there’s under- oor heating in both bathrooms, and we even have an induction hob.”

And Rusty is very impressed that their two large vehicles can t in the garage.

They’re enjoying having the Copthorne Solway Park close by, sitting out on its deck eating pizza over the summer, knowing that Rosie is welcome. Rusty points out that the hotel also means they’ve got ‘backup’ accommodation if all the family comes to stay at the same time.

Solway Country Estate show home now open on Sundays

The show home at Solway Country Estate is open every Sunday until 5 May, between 11am and 4pm. Come and visit

12 Driving Range Road, Solway Country Estate.

Entrance o

Mervyn Brown Place at the end of William Donald Drive.

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• NZ’s only compliant bracket

Westwood’s journey of growth

Westwood Property Group is Wairarapa’s largest land developer, offering superior house and land packages.

With the creation and growth of Westwood, Steve and Kate Pilbrow have built a great business over 15 years, creating local employment on the way (including about 22 staff and an array of contractors), and boosting the local economy.

“The Westwood brand originated with our first development in Greytown,” Steve says. “We purchased land in West Street from Jill Kemp in 2009 and things snowballed from there.”

Prior to that, Jill had planned to subdivide the area but wasn’t sure she wanted to do the work with the council, so sold the land instead. At around the same time, Steve was asked by a friend of Jill’s to build a house in the area once it was subdivided. Steve sat down with Jill and negotiated the purchase of the bare land, then set about creating what is now one of Wairarapa’s most sought after locations.

WESTWOOD AVENUE, GREYTOWN

Having completed the infrastructure in the Westwood Avenue development, the Westwood team built several of the architecturally designed homes.

During the development of the subdivision, the Westwood team installed services to provide future capacity for further stages to come.

THE HUB, MAIN STREET, GREYTOWN

Following completion of the Westwood Avenue subdivision, Westwood bought the old Four-Square building on Greytown’s Main Street from Trust House. The year was 2014. The team then converted the old Four-Square into six brand new retail and eatery spaces, building a new two-storey building alongside it to house both retail and office space, together with Greytown Dental. The Hub development was designed around the existing walnut tree which now, along with the pin oak trees that

Westwood planted in the central courtyard, create a stunning environment in which to shop and enjoy a coffee.

THE PLAINS, MASTERTON

Westwood bought land for The Plains subdivision from the Salvation Army, before building and selling house and land packages for all

42 lots. It was during this period that Westwood Property Group decided to grow the civil construction side of the business.

“We battled to find a civil construction company that could deliver within tight timeframes,” Steve says. He’s talking about the development of roads and other infrastructure required to

get a sub-division ready to sell sections to customers.

By growing the civil construction division, Steve and Kate now own a vertically integrated business that can streamline its operations. Other advantages include greater efficiencies, reduced costs, and more control along the whole process.

MAPLE GROVE, SOLWAY, MASTERTON

Westwood purchased some land in Solway in 2017 which became the Maple Grove subdivision.

It was tailored to meet the needs of G.J. Gardner Homes, which was just becoming established in the Wairarapa area.

“Our relationship with GJ’s has continued to grow,” Steve and Kate say. “GJ’s purchases a large portion of sections in our other subdivisions.”

THE BARRACKS, SOLWAY, MASTERTON

In 2017, Westwood bought land from the A & P Society

situated in Masterton’s Solway Showgrounds and developed The Barracks subdivision.

The name of The Barracks derives from a period during 1943 when two battalions from the US Marines Corp (USMC) were housed in barracks at the Solway Showgrounds. They came for rest and recuperation after experiencing gruelling Japanese attacks in the Solomon Islands.

While stationed here, the boys undertook jungle training in the Tararua Ranges and firing exercises at Riversdale Beach. There were romantic entanglements and engagements, an illicit trade in alcohol, and a boost for Wairarapa’s economy.

Historian Mark Pacey, author of Our New Zealand Home, The USMC in Wairarapa says, it wasn’t the “wisest decision in the world” to place the battalions right next door to a girls’ high school. Apparently, the girls climbed the fences to attract the attention of the Marines and were regularly chased away by security.

“The Barracks is a wonderful

development,” Kate and Steve agree. “Beautiful totara trees, native reserves nearby, and adjacent to the park-like grounds of Solway College.”

Originally, The Barracks subdivision was designed with large sections, but Westwood soon realised customers wanted much smaller sites. They adjusted the plan to suit, developing 65 lots, and including wide roads and wellplanted traffic islands. Average plots in The Barracks are 750m2, with larger ones coming in at 1000m2. Smaller sites border the railway boundary for duplex townhouses.

Four completed house and land packages are currently available for purchase.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

WELL UNDERWAYRead more about these on other pages in this feature:

 Solway Country Estate, Masterton: 18 house and land options are ready for your viewing now. Houses are already built on four of these sites.

 71 High Street, Masterton: five house and land packages are ready for purchase.

 Williams Estate, Gordon Street, Masterton: 18 sections are available for purchase at between $230,000 and $300,000.

 Ngaumutawa Hub (where Hunting & Fishing is located): Westwood has four more spaces available for lease.

 Solway Trade Park, CARTERS, Masterton: one space is available for lease or sale.

FUTURE PROJECTS ON THE BOOKS:

 Development of the current site of the Carterton Church, High Street South, Carterton.

 New three -storey office block by the Farriers at the north end of Queen Street, Masterton.

 Redevelopment of the Little Theatre Building in Greytown.

Meet Steve and Kate Pilbrow

Kate is part of the fth generation in her family to live in Wairarapa, with her ancestors coming over on The Bolton in 1840. She and her seven brothers and sisters were brought up on a Martinborough dairy farm, and her mother originally came from a sheep farm.

“The whole family was involved in the farm,” she says. “We all pitched in.”

She’s no stranger to hard work, including milking the cows. As a teenager, she attended Solway College, and boarded there.

Steve grew up in Johnsonville and attended Onslow College. While growing up, he often helped his father, who owned and built his own commercial warehouses. When Steve nished school, he completed a building apprenticeship and has worked in the building industry ever since.

He met Kate after she’d left

Wairarapa, but they came back to visit her family often and Steve grew to love the area. He was always keen to move here, eventually.

When they nally took the plunge to put down roots in Wairarapa, they originally built in Greytown, moving to Masterton later to make school life easier for their four children.

“We now have a lifestyle block of about four acres,” Steve says, “within walking distance of Rathkeale College.”

They built the house themselves, of course. Their children attended the Trinity Schools, starting at Hadlow and nishing at St Matthew’s and Rathkeale. Their youngest son is in his nal year at Rathkeale,

with the other three away at university.

Steve and Kate are a selfmade couple full of energy, drive, and passion for housing development.

“We’ve been together for decades,” Kate laughs, “and most of the time we work well together.”

Steve says, “we learned as we went along. We’ve always been keen to seize new opportunities that pop up.”

Communities in Wairarapa are also learning as they go. When Solway Country Estate was rst planned, neighbours in William Donald Drive objected because they feared tra c congestion (which hasn’t eventuated) and lowered house prices (but the value of the surrounding houses has increased signi cantly since the development started).

Development has got harder as good land has become increasingly scarce, Steve says. “The lands we can purchase today are not at paddocks. They’re more complex. Time and cost and additional requirements come with those.”

Other residential offerings

71 HIGH STREET, MASTERTON

Steve Pilbrow describes 71 High Street, Masterton as a “really nice site.” It’s right next to (and overlooks) South Park. It’s also close to schools, town, and the Kuripuni Village.

Resource consent has just been obtained to build ve new a ordable homes, with construction due to kick o later this year.

These house and land packages are now available for sale.

WILLIAMS ESTATE, GORDON STREET, MASTERTON

Westwood bought, from the council, 31 hectares of land situated on Gordon Street. The street is just o Te Ore

area. Due to the badly contoured nature of the land, the plot held water, and so the civil construction division of Westwood Property Group has had to invest in addressing this issue.

“The land was not a swamp,” Steve says, “but it needed signi cant earthworks as well as the installation of a fully reticulated stormwater system which feeds into a large, created, wetland attenuation pond. This allows for excellent management of peak ow rates of water during heavy rain events.”

Stage 2 has been sold to Freedom Lifestyle Villages for the development of a retirement village.

The Williams Estate subdivision has a

Most sites in Stage 1 have been sold, with only 18 out of 89 sections still available from Westwood. Several of the sections were purchased by G.J. Gardner which is now o ering house and land packages. GJ’s new show home is already under construction.

Westwood has put the 18 remaining sections (land only) on the open market at between $230,000 and $300,000. In easy distance of Henley Lake and the Ruamāhanga River, Williams Estate has a lot to o er.

“We’re selling sections up there right now,” Steve says. “Come and take a look.”

The Barracks development has four house and land packages available for purchase. Two existing homeowners in the Barracks tell their stories of buying and building there.

DON’T FENCE US IN

Coming from decades of owning a Tinui sheep and beef farm, Annie and Stu were looking for a home and land package that gave them space, wonderful views, scope for

landscaping, and a sense of their farming heritage.

“We were looking at open homes, decided to build, and fell in love with something we saw in The Plains,” Stu remembers. “We came up with a concept and Steve Pilbrow understood our vision right from the start. He suggested we look at sections in The Barracks.”

They were one of the first couples to buy into The Barracks, about two and a half years ago. The build journey was great, Annie says. She told Steve at the beginning that she and Stu wanted to still be friends with him at the end, and

they are. Steve went the extra mile, even meeting them with test pots for paint colours, she remembers.

“If we were to build another house, I would definitely ask Steve to build it,” Annie says.

Inside, the open plan livingdining-kitchen space is spacious. There are three bedrooms, an office, two big bathrooms, and an additional lounge or snug. They’ve got exposed trusses in the cathedral ceiling, oversized barn doors, storage everywhere, and a high stud.

With Solway College behind them, Annie and Stu know

they can’t be built out. Their sight lines include snow on the Tararaus in winter and big skies all year round. They’ve used clever planting to create outdoor ‘rooms’ with grasses, balls of pittosporum, iceberg roses, and hedging.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Both in their 80s, Shona and Tim bought their two-storey townhouse off the plans about two and a half years ago.

“We thought it would be a good investment,” Tim says.

Shona is a local lass and Tim originates from Hawke’s Bay. They’ve spent their lives

farming including on a sheep and beef farm out at Gladstone. Today, they’re on their next adventure, having decided to move into the townhouse themselves. They’re still settling in and are looking forward to starting a garden.

The spacious townhouse is situated to attract all-day sun in the open plan loungedining-kitchen area. There’s another lounge that could, if need arose, be used as a downstairs bedroom. There’s a WC downstairs and internal access to the garage and laundry area “which could also accommodate a shower,” Shona points out.

Upstairs, the townhouse feels like a Tardis with three large, airy bedrooms, two huge bathrooms, a walk-in robe, and massive amounts of storage.

All the hallways and doors are wide enough for wheelchairs and walkers. And Shona says the stairs are no problem; they’re a great way to keep fit. “This property is a great investment,” Tim says. “It will hold its value. And we love the fact that the house is freehold –no licence to occupy fees.”

Tim and Shona both agree that Steve and Kate have been great to deal with throughout the entire process.

Other commercial/ industrial offerings

SOLWAY TRADE PARK, MASTERTON, WITH CARTERS

A couple of years ago, during discussions with CARTERS, Steve and Kate discovered that the company needed a new fit-for-purpose building in Masterton.

The old CARTERS store in Masterton was no longer functional for customers. The new site at Solway Trade Park has new racking, modern forklifts, a generously high stud and a spacious lay out, and a drive-through option for easy load-up of trucks - all under cover.

Merging the former Masterton and Carterton stores into its new purpose-built site, and naming the new store CARTERS Wairarapa, has set the scene for this business for years to come.

Solway Trade Park holds five sites, one of which remains available for sale or for a design and build package to be leased. Watch this space as things begin to happen. SOLWAY

Nationally, CARTERS Building Supplies is a building merchant with 50 branches across the country. It stocks trade quality products from its own brands, as well as leading industry supplier brands. With nine manufacturing plants, it builds frames, trusses, and flooring modules for delivery across New Zealand.

connecting State Highway 2 and Ngaumutawa Road makes accessibility a breeze too.

The Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing store in Ngaumutawa Road has been open for a couple of years now, and customers love the space, the layout, and the amazing carpark. The new roundabout

Four spaces remain available to lease for commercial / industrial businesses in keeping with Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing.

NGAUMUTAWA HUB, MASTERTON, WITH WAIRARAPA HUNTING & FISHING

CARTERS WAIRARAPA BUILT BY WESTWOOD PROPERTY GROUP IN SOLWAY TRADE PARK

WAIRARAPA HUNTING AND FISHING BUILT BY WESTWOOD PROPERTY GROUP IN THE NGAUMUTAWA HUB

David McHa ie

David McHattie is proud to have been working alongside Westwood Property Group for the last seven years within the residential, lifestyle village, and commercial Real Estate markets.

“WPG has pioneered an innovative development model: thinking big, bringing cutting-edge design and quality craftsmanship to affordable housing. From superior executive properties

and deluxe family homes to upscale townhouses, twostorey apartments and an elegant lifestyle village, WPG creates beautifully landscaped neighbourhoods to be very proud of.”

Acknowledging the exceptional legacy being left to the Wairarapa, through The Westwood Property Group’s conscientious commitment to raise the bar in style, skill and beauty, David says, thank you.

For Sale

67

Albert Street Masterton

Solway Country Estate Masterton

15 OPPORTUNITIES REMAINING! - FOUR IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE

A CHIC, OPULENT TREAT

1 1 2-3

For Sale

From $725,000 - $795,000

‘Solway Country Estate Lifestyle Village is designed for the discerning buyer over 50, looking to live independently amongst a fully landscaped stylish village setting on a freehold titled sites.’

Oozing nostalgic charm with sumptuous comfort, this beautifully restored Villa offers pure contentment.

The restoration has been a labour of love, conscientiously accomplished with an eye to detail. Fusing vintage opulence with modern expectations, renovations include a new kitchen, new bathroom, with new appliances, fittings, ornate clawfoot bath, and separate loo. Hot water is provided via gas, with heating through heatpump and transfer system. Window furnishings and paint (both inside and out) are freshly done. Fully-fenced, the surrounding grounds have been tastefully landscaped and include a garage with workshop space.

The feeling of warmth and timeless luxury immediately descends, upon entering these delicious homes. With sumptuous carpet and muted tones leading through to the living areas, generous in space and height, the contemporary kitchen is perfect for elegant entertaining and personal contentment. Meanwhile, exterior patios wrap around the living areas, offering perfect positioning from which to appreciate summer days, landscaped grounds and the total refinement of this desirable neighbourhood. Membership to the Copthorne Solway Country Club included in each package.

Proudly nestled within a handy locale, be the first to reside in this stunningly transformed home.

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